Studies on Slow Potentials in the Rabbit's Olfactory Bulb and Nasal Mucosa

Abstract

Abstract When the nasal mucosa in the rabbit is stimulated with odorized air the olfactory bulb develops a slow potential with superimposed regular waves. The slow potential may be obtained in isolation after the intrinsic activity of the bulb and the induced waves have been blocked. If the bulb is removed and recording made from the cut end of an olfactory nerve bundle a slow positive potential is recorded that has the same time course and shape as the bulb response. The potential recorded from the nerve arises in the olfactory epithelium and is electrotonically conducted along the nerve fibres. The response of the receptor layer can also be obtained in direct recordings with the electrode pushed into the mucosa through one of the canals in the ethmoid bone. The receptor potential in the rabbit exhibits the same characteristics as the corresponding response in the frog.